Pocketed Sash

ABSTRACT

A pocketed sash garment is provided. The sash garment comprises a sash body having an upper end and a lower end, whereby the upper end is adapted to rest over a user&#39;s shoulder and the lower end is adapted to rest against a user&#39;s opposing hip. The sash body forms an enclosed loop with an arcuate shape. Along the sash body are one or more pockets disposed within an interior volume of the sash body. Each of the pockets has a pocket opening along an upper edge of the sash garment, thereby providing access to the pockets while a user is wearing the sash. Moreover, each sash opening further comprises a fastener to secure the opening closed. The sash garment provides a more secure means of carrying personal items close to one&#39;s body.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/142,530 filed on Apr. 3, 2015. The above identified patentapplication is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety toprovide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to garments for carrying personal itemsand to sash garments. More specifically, the present invention relatesto a body-worn sash garment that drapes over one shoulder and extendsaround the opposing hip, whereby the sash includes one or more pocketstherein for securing personal items against the user's body and in aconvenient location to retrieve the items.

While traveling or otherwise away from home, personal items must becarried for making purchases and for providing identification. Whilethese items are generally placed within a garment pocket or hand bag,some prefer not to carry a hand bag or place many items in theirpockets. Certain items are generally deemed essential when away fromhome, including keys, identification cards, mobile phones, and cash orcredit cards. Rather than placing these items in a hand bag or pants'pocket, the present invention provides a hands-free alternative forcarrying and securing the items when traveling, shopping, or exercising.

Along with convenience, security is also a factor in carrying personalitems. Hand bags are also easily separated from a carrier ifunexpectedly taken from the shoulder or swiped directly out of one'shands. Moreover, if the hand bag is left unaccompanied, it can easily bestolen. This security threat extends also to items carried in one'spockets. Pickpockets are known for their skill at removing wallets andother items from pants and coat pockets. Therefore, along withconvenience, a device for carrying personal items is necessary thatincreases the security thereof.

A final concern of traditional means of carrying personal items isretrieveability. Placing items haphazardly in a hand bag can lead toclutter and difficulty finding a specific item when necessary.Similarly, placing many items in a single pocket can make retrieval moredifficult, and even require emptying of the entire pocket to locate asingle item. The present invention, along with security and convenience,also provides a garment that can support personal items in one or morepockets, whereby the location of the pocket on the user's body makes formore efficient retrieval.

The present invention provides a sash garment item that is particularlysuited for carrying personal items. The sash comprises a sash body withan inner sash surface and an outer sash surface, which are securedtogether along their peripheral edges. The sash forms an arcuate shape,whereby an upper end is adapted to rest over one shoulder of the wearer,while the lower end is adapted to rest against the opposite hip of thewearer. The sash body extends across the front and rear of the user'storso and extends diagonally thereacross. Along the sash body is aplurality of pockets, which are disposed within the interior of the sashand between the inner and outer sash surfaces. The pockets areaccessible through securable openings along the upper edge of the sash,whereby the user can look downward and into the pockets, and retrieveitems stored in the pockets and against the user's torso.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following summary is intended solely for the benefit of the readerand is not intended to be limiting in any way. The present inventionprovides a new sash garment, wherein the same can be utilized forproviding convenience for the user when storing and carrying personalitems within the pockets of the sash garment.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved sash garment that has all of the advantages of the prior artand none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a sash garmentthat includes one or more pockets therealong, whereby the pockets offerthe capacity to carrying personal items close to the user's body,thereby allowing the user to forego bulky pockets or handbags.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pocketed sashgarment that comprises a sash body formed of an inner sash surface andan outer sash surface, whereby the inner and outer sash surfaces may beformed of a single material, or two layers connected along theirperimeter edges to form the body.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pocketed sashgarment, whereby the inner sash surface and an outer sash surface bothcomprise peripheral edges, whereby the peripheral edges are connected toform an interior volume within the sash body, an upper edge, and a loweredge.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pocketed sashgarment, whereby the sash body has an upper end and a lower end. Theupper end is adapted to rest over a user's shoulder, while the lower endis adapted to rest against a user's opposing hip. The upper end has afirst width, and the lower end has a second width, whereby the firstwidth may be smaller than the second width.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pocketed sashgarment, whereby the sash body is adapted to extend across a front and arear of a user's torso and extend diagonally thereacross. The sash maybe reversible to accommodate a left or right handed wearers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pocketed sashgarment, comprising one or more pockets disposed within interior volumeof the sash body, whereby each pocket comprises an enclosed pocketvolume that is preferably separated from the interior volume of the sashbody to form discrete pocket interiors.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pocketed sashgarment, whereby each pocket along the sash body has a pocket openingdisposed along an upper or lower edge of the sash body and extendingtherealong.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pocketed sashgarment, whereby each pocket opening further comprises a fastenerclosure device for securing the opening in a closed state. The preferredfastener is a zip fastener that extends along the opening of eachpocket.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pocketed sashgarment, whereby the one or more pockets further comprise an upperpocket, a middle pocket, and a lower pocket along the sash body.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pocketed sashgarment, whereby the upper pocket is smaller than the middle pocket; andthe middle pocket is smaller than the lower pocket.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pocketed sashgarment, whereby the sash body further comprises a front portion and arear portion; and the one or more pockets are disposed along the frontportion of the sash body.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pocketed sashgarment, whereby the sash body further comprises a front portion and arear portion; and the one or more pockets are disposed along the frontportion and the rear of the sash body.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will beparticularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and mannerin which it may be made and used may be better understood after a reviewof the following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a frontal view of the sash garment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the upper edge of the sash garment,along with a view of an open pocket and the zip fastener closuretherealong.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like referencenumerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similarelements of the pocketed sash garment of the present invention. For thepurposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the presentinvention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used forproviding a convenient and secure means of carrying personal items closeto a user's body. The figures are intended for representative purposesonly and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a frontal view of the sashgarment of the present invention. The sash garment is one that allows auser to carry personal items within enclosed pockets along the sash,such that the personal items are retained against the wearer's body andin a more secure manner than in a handbag or in one's pant pockets. Inparticular, the sash garment of the present invention comprises a sashbody 50 that extends across the wearer's torso, around the wearer'sback, and over one of the wearer's shoulder. The sash body 50 remainsclose to the user, and should be sized to avoid large separations fromthe user's body. This maintains personal items within pockets 30 alongthe sash body 50, which retain items in a secure manner. The sash may beworn over or beneath other clothing items.

Specifically, the sash garment comprises a sash body 50 formed of aninner sash surface 62 and an outer sash surface 61. The inner sashsurface 62 and an outer sash surface 61 each comprise peripheral edges81, 82, whereby the peripheral edges 81, 82 are connected to form aninterior volume within the sash body 50. The peripheral edges 81, 82 maycomprise folds of continuous material, whereby the inner 62 and outer 61sash surfaces are formed of a unitary material, or alternatively, theinner 62 and outer 61 sash surfaces may be formed of two materialsurfaces sewn 15 or otherwise connected to one another along theirshared peripheral edges 81, 82. In both constructions, the peripheraledges 81, 82 form an upper edge 81 and a lower edge 82.

The sash body 50 forms an enclosed loop around the wearer's upper body,whereby the loop forms an arcuate shape. The upper end 51 of the sashbody is adapted to rest over one of the user's shoulders 101, while thelower end 52 is adapted to rest against the wearer's opposing hip 52.The sash body 50 may be designed to be interchangeable, whereby the sashbody 50 can be inverted to place the sash over either the left or rightshoulders of the wearer. When inverted, the inner sash surface 62 isflipped outward and becomes an outer surface of the sash garment.Likewise, the outer sash surface 61 is flipped inward and becomes aninner surface of the sash garment. In either direction, the sash body 50is adapted to extend across a front and a rear of a user's torso 100,and extend diagonally thereacross.

The upper end 51 and the lower end 52 of the sash body form a firstwidth and a second width, respectively. The sash body 50 may be designedsuch that the first (upper) width is narrower than the second (lower)width, or alternatively the width may be uniform around the sash body50, as designed by the manufacturer and desired by the user. In eitherembodiment, the sash body 50 forms an interior volume. Within thisinterior volume are one or more pockets 30, which extend into theinterior volume and preferably form separately enclosed pocketinteriors.

The pockets 30 are disposed along at least one of the front half or rearhalf of the sash body, whereby the user can access the front-sidepockets and use rear-side pockets for more secure carriage of the itemstherein. In a preferred configuration, each pocket 30 comprises anenclosed pocket volume that is separated from the interior volume. Thisallows each pocket 30 to serve as individual storage, and prevents itemsfrom falling downwards within the interior of the sash body 50. Theseparated interior volumes may comprise any segregation of the pocketinterior from the general interior of the sash body. This may include aninterior pocket lining, wherein the pockets are separated from theinterior and can be inverted out of the pocket openings 20.Alternatively, it is contemplated that interior baffles or interiorwalls may separate the interior of the sash body, whereby each wall isdisposed between adjacent pockets to prevent comingling of items placedthrough each pocket opening 20.

Each pocket 30 further comprises a pocket opening 20. The pocketopenings 20 are disposed along an edge 81 of the sash body 50 and extendalong an edge 81, 82 thereof. Preferably, each pocket opening 20 isdisposed along the upper edge 81 of the sash body. However, it iscontemplated that both the upper 81 and lower 82 edges may comprisepocket openings, thereby facilitating the invertible construction of thesash body 50. When inverted, the lower pocket openings may offer accessto the pockets 30 from above. While not inverted, the upper pocketopenings serve as access to the pockets 30 from above. A view of thepocket opening 20 along either of the upper 81 or lower 82 edge is shownin FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a close-up view of a pocket opening 20is provided. The pocket opening 20 provides access to the interiorvolume 25 of the given pocket 30 along the sash body. The opening 20 ofeach pocket 30 may be provided along the upper edge, lower edge, oralong both the upper and lower edges of the sash body. Preferably, theinterior 25 of the pockets is segregated from the interior of the sashbody, whereby additional material may be used to form an enclosed pocketbetween the inner 62 and outer 61 surfaces of the sash body. FIG. 2 alsoillustrates the embodiment in which the inner 62 and outer 61 surfacesof the sash body are sewn together along a sewn line of connection 15.This is one example construction of the sash body.

To add security to the sash pockets, each of the openings 20 furthercomprises a pocket opening closure device for operably securing theopening 20 in a closed state. In a preferred embodiment, the closuredevice is a zip fastener closure device for securing the opening 20 in aclosed state. The zip fastener comprises a pair of zip fastener cleats22 disposed along opposing edges of the opening 20, and a zip fastenerclasp that draws the cleats 22 together into a secure, closed state.Also contemplated are hook and loop closure devices, buttons, and othercommon garment closure devices. The sash may also be reversible toaccommodate easy change and replacement of items by a right or lefthanded person. Depending on construction of the sash, the appearance ofthe sash may be altered by providing different-colored sides that can beinterchanged by inverting the sash. This can be useful when match awearer's outfit

Overall, the sash garment of the present invention provides a convenientand secure means of carrying items close to a user's body. Theconstruction of the sash body may take on several forms, including theembodiment shown in FIG. 1. This embodiment contemplates an upperpocket, a middle pocket, and a lower pocket along the front and/or rearof the sash body. Further contemplated in some embodiments is a sizedifferential between the different pockets. This is particularly thecase when the width is not uniform across the sash body. As representedin FIG. 1, the upper pocket may be smaller than the middle pocket, andthe middle pocket is smaller than the lower pocket.

In use, the device can carry personal items within the pockets along thesash body. This eliminates placing these items in one's pants pockets orin a separable handbag. The sash garment is secured to the user's torso,across the user's shoulder and over the user's hip. In this way, thedevice provides security, and is more convenient than other means ofcarrying personal items.

It is submitted that the instant invention has been shown and describedin what is considered to be the most practical and preferredembodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be madewithin the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications willoccur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the abovedescription then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensionalrelationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations insize, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assemblyand use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in theart, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in thedrawings and described in the specification are intended to beencompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

I claim: 1) A sash garment, comprising: a sash body formed of an innersash surface and an outer sash surface; the inner sash surface and anouter sash surface each comprising peripheral edges, whereby theperipheral edges are connected to form an interior volume within thesash body, an upper edge, and a lower edge; the sash body having anupper end and a lower end, the upper end having a first width and thelower end having a second width; whereby the sash body forms an enclosedloop with an arcuate shape, whereby the upper end is adapted to restover a user's shoulder, and the lower end is adapted to rest against auser's opposing hip; whereby the sash body is adapted to extend across afront and a rear of a user's torso and extend diagonally thereacross;one or more pockets disposed within interior volume of the sash body;each pocket having a pocket opening; each pocket opening being disposedalong one of the upper edge or lower edge of the sash body, and extendstherealong. 2) The sash garment of claim 1, wherein each pocket furthercomprises an enclosed pocket volume that is separated from the interiorvolume 3) The sash garment of claim 1, wherein each pocket opening isdisposed along the upper edge of the sash body, and extends therealong.4) The sash garment of claim 1, wherein the pocket openings is disposedalong the upper edge and the lower of the sash body for each pocket. 5)The sash garment of claim 1, wherein each pocket opening furthercomprise a zip fastener closure device for securing the opening in aclosed state. 6) The sash garment of claim 1, wherein: the one or morepockets further comprise an upper pocket, a middle pocket, and a lowerpocket along the sash body. 7) The sash garment of claim 6, wherein: theupper pocket is smaller than the middle pocket; and the middle pocket issmaller than the lower pocket. 8) The sash garment of claim 1, wherein:the sash body further comprises a front portion and a rear portion; andwhereby the one or more pockets are disposed along the front portion ofthe sash body. 9) The sash garment of claim 1, wherein: the sash bodyfurther comprises a front portion and a rear portion; and whereby theone or more pockets are disposed along the front portion and the rear ofthe sash body. 10) The sash garment of claim 1, wherein the first widthof the sash body at the upper end thereof is smaller than the secondwidth of the sash body at the lower end thereof.